Weidenfeld & Nicolson is understood to have written off a number of author advances as it continues to trim its non-fiction list. The reductions are said to be a fall-out from last summer's three job cuts in W&N's non-fiction editorial team. Orion is aiming to reduce W&N's non-fiction output to 50 titles a year, down...

Hachette saw its operating profit margin increase to 11.2% in 2007, according to final results filed by its parent Lagardere. The business recorded a "fine performance", the group said, with earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) up by 9.4%.

The group stated that all operating segments contributed to the profit growth. "...

Hachette Livre, Albin Michel and book club France Loisir have launched a talking book joint venture aimed to widen the market beyond the partially-sighted and elderly and to appeal particularly to adults between the ages of 25 and 45.

Audiolib, which is owned 75% by Hachette Livre and Albin Michel and 25% by Bertelsmann subsidiary France...

The two biggest publishers in Britain are to offer dozens of likely bestsellers to read on a hand-held screen this autumn in a sign that, after many false dawns, the electronic "ebook" may finally have arrived, reports the Sunday Times. Two rival devices due to come on sale in Britain over the next few months – Sony’s...